The second edition of Ranthambore Festival is back with a scintillating lineup of music performances after a successful debut last year. Hosted by Nahargarh Palace, Ranthambore, from January 19 to 21, the cultural festival will offer a confluence of music concerts, wildlife documentaries, and nature and wellbeing experiences. Not only showcasing the best of Indian and international music, but also providing an avenue for the conservation of indigenous music, art, and wildlife, Puqaar Foundation, BookASmile, and First Stone bring together this one of a kind cultural celebration.

The impressive lineup boasts of 18 concerts by both Indian and international musicians. Festival attendees can enjoy a poetry and musical performance by Farhan Akhtar and his rock band, Farhan Akhtar Live. Several folk and classical music legends are set to imbue the winter air with the magic of tradition. Nagada player Nathulal Ji Solanki will perform with his 12-member troupe, while the gifted vocalist, dholak, and harmonium player Nehal Khan will enthrall the audience. Rami Devi weaves magic around Mira Bai’s devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna through her mellifluous voice and the harmonium. Fans of fusion music should brace themselves for electric performances by Indian vocalist Tritha Sinha (of the Indo-French ethno-punk band Tritha Electric) with French musician Martin Dubois on a rare Rajasthani percussion instrument, the Ghadha Gambhira. And veteran jazz saxophonist Roger Hanschel, will be performing solo as well as with his Indo-German Indian Classical and Jazz Fusion band – Trio Benares; and many other artistes such as Fiddler’s Green, Labik Kamal, Faran Ensemble, and Latif Khan will guarantee an experience worth remembering and coming back for.

Nahargarh Fort Image: radioandmusic.com

To honour the beauty of nature that surrounds the home of our endangered national animal, Ranthambore Festival 2018 will also showcase 12 wildlife documentaries as well as conduct talks and panel discussions on wildlife and nature conservation. National Award winning documentarian Mike Pandey will be present for interactive sessions after the screening of his films on tiger conservation, Looking for Sultan, and on whale sharks, called Shores of Silence. Renowned environmental activist and writer, Bittu Sahgal will also speak on the need for ecological sustenance.

The fun does not end here. The festival includes theatre and dance performances, workshops in pottery, block printing and eco-friendly toy-making, safari, hot air balloon rides, heritage bicycle rides, and stargazing camps. In addition to this, the festival promises an enriching yoga and meditation experience, and masterclasses in folk music instruments. The Prince of Alsisar will play host to a Royal Secret Supper at Badal Mahal, where he will take the diners through a sumptuous history behind the flavours and recipes of traditional Rajasthani food.

Visitors to the festival can further boost the activities of local NGOs by shopping for artisan-crafted clothes, accessories, and stationery items at the Festival Souk.

Individual Day Passes to the festival cost INR 3,000 each, whereas a Season Pass is available for INR 5,000. To book yours, click here.